Full-time work rights will end and the period of the Graduate Visa will increase

The Australian Government will increase the duration of post study work rights of international students to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour.

Graduate visa period will be increased from:

• Two years to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees
• Three years to five years for select Masters degrees
• Four years to six years for select PhDs.

Minister O’Neil also announced today that work hours for international students will be capped again in June next year following feedback from stakeholders.The number of hours will be subject to consultation with a view to striking the right balance between work and study.

At the moment, only 16 per cent of international students stay on after their studies end.

This will mean they can stay on longer and use the skills they’ve gained in Australia to help fill some of the chronic skills shortages the country has right now.

International education is an important Australian industry that has been heavily impacted by the pandemic.

The outcomes from the Jobs and Skills Summit are geared towards supporting international education and giving the students who earn degrees in Australia the chance to contribute to the productivity of our economy.

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